US5812790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Variable encoding rate plan generation
Assignee: Sonic Solutions LLC
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Filing: 1996-09-09
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Granted: 1998-09-22
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Expires: 2016-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A profile of information flow rate of a source data stream having inherently variable information flow rate may be developed and conformed to a constrained target profile of output bit rate as would be generated by a variable compression ratio encoding scheme to be applied to the source data stream. The target profile may be constrained as to minimum output bit rate, maximum output bit rate, and average output bit rate. The resulting conforming profile identifies an encoding plan for the source data stream. One application is preparation of video material for storage on a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) where total bit storage capacity is limited, the source data stream is an uncompressed video data stream, and the target encoding scheme is MPEG-2 data compression.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce William Randall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N19/00; H04N19/10; H04N19/189; H04N19/192; H04N19/102; H04N19/103; H04N19/114; H04N19/115; H04N19/124; H04N19/169; H04N19/177; H04N19/186; H04N19/60; H04N19/61; H04N19/134; H04N19/146; H04N19/152
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A computer-implemented method for establishing a digital data encoding plan for digital information wherein a source data stream has inherently variable information flow rate and wherein a target encoding scheme for said source data stream has a variable compression control and a variable output bit rate, said method comprising the steps of: capturing a profile of said variable information flow rate over time; and conforming said variable information flow rate profile to a set of time-dependent target constraints upon said variable output bit rate; and wherein said capturing step comprises the substeps of: feeding said source data stream into an encoder operating in accordance with said target encoding scheme, said encoder having an adaptive bit rate control input; disabling said adaptive bit rate control input; and registering the contour of said output bit rate of said encoder to define said variable information flow rate profile.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A computer-implemented method for establishing a digital data encoding plan for digital information wherein a source data stream has inherently variable information flow rate and wherein a target encoding scheme for said source data stream has a variable compression control and a variable output bit rate, said method comprising the steps of: capturing a profile of said variable information flow rate over time; and conforming said variable information flow rate profile to a set of time-dependent target constraints upon said variable output bit rate; and wherein said capturing step comprises the substeps of: feeding said source data stream into an encoder operating in accordance with said target encoding scheme, said encoder having an adaptive bit rate control input; disabling said adaptive bit rate control input; and registering the contour of said output bit rate of said encoder to define said variable information flow rate profile.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said set of target constraints comprises a target maximum bit rate, a target minimum bit rate, and a target average bit rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said source data stream comprises a video data stream.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said target encoding scheme is MPEG-2.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said conforming step comprises the substeps of: displaying said captured profile; and reshaping at least a segment of said profile to develop a user reshaped profile.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said reshaping substep comprises: specifying insertion of an I-picture at a particular time in said source data stream.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
A computer-implemented method for establishing a digital data encoding plan for digital information wherein a source data stream has inherently variable information flow rate and wherein a target encoding scheme for said source data stream has a variable compression control and a variable output bit rate, said method comprising the steps of: capturing a profile of said variable information flow rate over time; conforming said variable information flow rate profile to a set of time-dependent target constraints upon said variable output bit rate; displaying said captured profile on a display; and reshaping at least a segment of said captured profile to form a reshaped profile.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
A computer-implemented method for establishing a digital data encoding plan for digital information wherein a source data stream has inherently variable information flow rate and wherein a target encoding scheme for said source data stream has a variable compression control and a variable output bit rate, said method comprising the steps of: capturing a profile of said variable information flow rate over time; conforming said variable information flow rate profile to a set of time-dependent target constraints upon said variable output bit rate; displaying said captured profile on a display; and reshaping at least a segment of said captured profile to form a reshaped profile.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of: encoding at least a segment of said source data stream in accordance with said reshaped profile.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said reshaping step comprises: accepting user input directly reshaping said at least a segment of said captured profile.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said reshaping step comprises: automatically normalizing said captured profile in accordance with said target constraints.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for establishing a digital data encoding plan for digital information wherein a source data stream has inherently variable information flow rate and wherein a target encoding scheme for said source data stream has a variable compression control and a variable output bit rate, said apparatus comprising: means for capturing a profile of said variable information flow rate over time; and means for conforming said variable information flow rate profile to a set of time-dependent target constraints upon said variable output bit rate; and wherein said capturing means comprises: means for feeding said source data stream into an encoder operating in accordance with said target encoding scheme, said encoder having an adaptive bit rate control input; means for disabling said adaptive bit rate control input; and means for registering the contour of said output bit rate of said encoder to define said variable information flow rate profile.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for establishing a digital data encoding plan for digital information wherein a source data stream has inherently variable information flow rate and wherein a target encoding scheme for said source data stream has a variable compression control and a variable output bit rate, said apparatus comprising: means for capturing a profile of said variable information flow rate over time; and means for conforming said variable information flow rate profile to a set of time-dependent target constraints upon said variable output bit rate; and wherein said capturing means comprises: means for feeding said source data stream into an encoder operating in accordance with said target encoding scheme, said encoder having an adaptive bit rate control input; means for disabling said adaptive bit rate control input; and means for registering the contour of said output bit rate of said encoder to define said variable information flow rate profile.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said set of target constraints comprises a target maximum bit rate, a target minimum bit rate, and a target average bit rate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said source data stream comprises a video data stream.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said target encoding scheme is MPEG-2.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said conforming means comprises: means for displaying said captured profile; and means for reshaping at least a segment of said profile to develop a user reshaped profile.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said reshaping means comprises: means for specifying insertion of an I-picture at a particular time in said source data stream.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for establishing a digital data encoding plan for digital information wherein a source data stream has inherently variable information flow rate and wherein a target encoding scheme for said source data stream has a variable compression control and a variable output bit rate, said apparatus comprising: means for capturing a profile of said variable information flow rate over time; means for conforming said variable information flow rate profile to a set of time-dependent target constraints upon said variable output bit rate; means for displaying said captured profile; and means for reshaping at least a segment of said captured profile to form a reshaped profile.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for establishing a digital data encoding plan for digital information wherein a source data stream has inherently variable information flow rate and wherein a target encoding scheme for said source data stream has a variable compression control and a variable output bit rate, said apparatus comprising: means for capturing a profile of said variable information flow rate over time; means for conforming said variable information flow rate profile to a set of time-dependent target constraints upon said variable output bit rate; means for displaying said captured profile; and means for reshaping at least a segment of said captured profile to form a reshaped profile.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising: means for encoding at least a segment of said source data stream in accordance with said reshaped profile.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said reshaping means comprises: means for accepting user input directly reshaping said at least a segment of said captured profile.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said reshaping means comprises: means for automatically normalizing said captured profile in accordance with said target constraints.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer system configured to establish a digital data encoding plan for digital information wherein a source data stream has inherently variable information flow rate and wherein a target encoding scheme for said source data stream has a variable compression control and a variable output bit rate, said computer system comprising: a display; and a processing system configured to: develop a profile of said variable information flow rate over time; display said profile on a display; and to conform said variable information flow rate profile to a constrained target profile of said variable output bit rate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer system configured to establish a digital data encoding plan for digital information wherein a source data stream has inherently variable information flow rate and wherein a target encoding scheme for said source data stream has a variable compression control and a variable output bit rate, said computer system comprising: a display; and a processing system configured to: develop a profile of said variable information flow rate over time; display said profile on a display; and to conform said variable information flow rate profile to a constrained target profile of said variable output bit rate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
63 words
The computer system of claim 21 wherein said processing system is configured to develop said profile by virtue of being configured to: feed said source data stream into an encoder operating in accordance with said target encoding scheme and having an adaptive bit rate control input; disable said adaptive bit rate control input; and to monitor an output bit rate of said encoder.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 22 wherein said source data stream comprises video information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer system of claim 21 wherein said processing system is configured to conform said profile by virtue of being configured to: accept user input reshaping a segment of said profile to develop a user reshaped profile.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5463565A
Cited
US5650860A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-21 | 2002-03-23 | 2002-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-21 | 2006-03-23 | 2006-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-21 | 2010-03-23 | 2010-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |